Guj: NCB seizes 42,000 bottles of codeine cough syrup; 3 held

The Ahmedabad zonal unit of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has arrested three persons on charges of illegal sale of highly-addictive Codeine cough syrup, a senior officer said today.

During its operation, which began on June 29, the NCB seized 42,358 bottles of the syrup from different locations in Patan and Ahmedabad, the agency said in a statement.

The accused, identified as Lalit Patel, Bharat Chaudhary and Nilesh Chavda, allegedly used to sale the syrup illegally to those who have become addicted to its consumption, the officer said.

"This cough syrup contains a pharmaceutical substance called Codeine derived from opium, a narcotics substance having a high potential for addiction," said zonal director, Ahmedabad NCB, Hari Om Gandhi.

Based on a specific tip off, the NCB, along with officials of the state Food and Drug Control Authority (FDCA), raided a godown in Patan, around 135 kms from here, and seized 37,198 bottles of the syrup.

"This stock belonged to one Lalit Patel, the owner of Sanand-based Diya Healthcare. Patel was arrested under the provisions of the NDPS (Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Substances) Act, as he didn't have the license to store the drug outside Sanand," Gandhi said, adding that all the bottles were of the same batch and Patel got them manufactured from a Himachal Pradesh-based manufacturer.

In a follow up operation yesterday, NCB officials raided two locations in Ahmedabad and seized 5,160 bottles of the same batch of the syrup from Bharat Chaudhary and Nilesh Chavda.

"Chaudhary, a resident of Rajasthan, was selling this syrup illegally to addicts. He was previously booked in two similar cases in Mumbai and is currently on bail. Chavda used to work for Chaudhry," the officer said.

Codeine cough syrup acts as a pain reliever as well as a cough suppressant, said Gandhi.

"This is a prescription drug only and cannot be purchased over the counter. Excess consumption of this syrup can develop into a full-fledged addiction. Codeine is classified as an opiate having a high potential for addiction," said Gandhi.

He said though the pain reliever syrup is considered as a mild opiate, "it is still a dangerous drug whose usage and popularity are rising among celebrities, teenagers and young adults".